Introduction
I’m a firm believer that one of the most rewarding experiences is learning to be self-sufficient. I’ve been interested in homesteading and living as self-sufficiently as possible for a while now. With all the social unrest, banking crisis, and supply line issues being more self-sufficient seems more important than ever to me. Homesteading and self-sufficiency require hard work, dedication, and an understanding of what it takes to make it happen.
My journey into homesteading and self-sufficient living began with a lot of research and planning. This involved understanding the financial considerations, identifying a suitable property, and researching topics such as building structures, acquiring livestock, growing food, water collection/purification/storage, energy production alternatives, waste management/recycling etc. Not everyone will want or need to do all of these things but this article will give you a broad idea of things you might consider as a part of your homesteading and self-sufficiency life journey. Remember every journey starts with a single step so don’t be overwhelmed by what you can’t do right now, just do what you can.
Planning for Homesteading and Self-Sufficient Living
Financial Considerations
When it comes to planning for homesteading and self-sufficiency, there are a lot of financial considerations that need to be taken into account. For instance, what kind of property do you have in mind? Is it big enough to grow food and house livestock? Are the soil conditions right or does it require some additional nutrients to make it suitable for farming? How much will it cost to purchase the land and any necessary equipment? What about taxes, insurance, upkeep costs? All of these are important financial considerations that need to be taken into account when planning for homesteading and self-sufficiency.
Finding a Suitable Property
Finding a suitable property is also an important part of planning for homesteading and self-sufficiency. You should research all of your options thoroughly and make sure that the land meets your needs as far as size, terrain, soil conditions, climate, and other factors. You should also consider how close you are to amenities like grocery stores, healthcare facilities, and libraries.
The property we bought for instance had many things to recommend it. Its location was perfect for our needs. However, the land is very rocky and hilly. This did not bother me as my plan was always to do raised beds but if you were planning a market garden it would have been a bad choice. Even with raised beds, it has complicated things as getting the beds level is harder when your land is not flat. The other complication the land composition caused was being so close to the bedrock we could not have a basement. Well, we could have but it would have involved dynamite and a great deal of money!
Another issue is the remoteness of our property, which was a selling point for us, but also means we have further to go for things like medical care and groceries. You can also run into issues such as finding a builder who will come to your property. We lucked out. Our builder lives 5 miles from us! Building our own home was not an option for us as we did not have the time, skills, or strength any longer being older.
Even if you plan to move something like a modular home onto your property you have to consider if your access will allow that. Our road is very steep and curvy and can only kindly be called a road! Four-wheel drive is a necessity. We considered something modular but we would have been very limited in size.
Building Structures and Infrastructure on a Homestead
When you purchase a homesite, the lot may be devoid of any structures or infrastructure. In most cases, you will have to build your own house, garage, barns and other outbuildings from scratch. You also need to install plumbing and electrical services as well as roads and access points. All of these tasks can be expensive and time-consuming if done correctly.
Before starting any work on the land, it is important to check with local authorities and zoning boards for specific regulations regarding what can be built and where. This will help ensure that your property remains in compliance with local building codes after construction is complete. We purposely chose a place with no building codes for the property.
When it comes to planning a homesite layout, it is also important to consider the size of structures that can be built on the land and the type of terrain. If you are considering building a large structure, like a home or barn, make sure you have enough room to do so without sacrificing other important features such as drainage or views or needing dynamite to make your basement!
In addition to constructing structures, it is also important to consider installing water lines and other infrastructure in order to set up utilities. It is also important to make sure the land has sufficient drainage so that flooding does not occur during heavy rains. We have a cute three-season creek running through our property. We had a load of river stone dumped a good 10 feet from the side of it. A heavy rain came and caused flash-flooding and there went half our river rock! It does look pretty in the stream bed but who knows how long it will stay there!
Overall, building structures and infrastructure on a homesite requires careful planning and consideration in order for it to be done right. Taking the time to do the research and make the right decisions can save you time and money while also ensuring that your property is safe and compliant with local regulations. With careful planning, building a homesite on raw land can be a rewarding experience.
Creating Self-Sufficient Systems
Water Collection, Purification, and Storage
Creating self-sufficient systems on a homesite can be a great way to reduce your dependence on utilities and other services. Water collection, purification, and storage are key components of any self-sufficiency plan as it allows you to harvest rainwater or utilize gray water for watering plants or washing clothes. I plan to set up a rain barrel watering system to capture water for the garden and any animals we have. We have already put in swales to capture run off and use that to water trees and bushes downhill of the berm and perennials on the berms themselves. I’ve seen this done in much larger systems such as orchards.
I do suggest you observe your property before doing this. I put one swale in that was too high on the slope and does not get enough runoff because of that. It worked out OK as we fill it with the hose and it waters those trees for a full month but it does not capture much water.
Energy Production Alternatives
Energy production alternatives such as solar panels, wind turbines, or other renewable energy sources can provide you with free electricity to power your home. We would love to incorporate solar for at least the running of our well and I am researching that. One issue in the middle of nowhere as we are is finding someone who can both do solar and repair as needed. So maybe I’ll add that to my list of skills I want to learn along with small engine repair!
Waste management and recycling
Waste management and recycling can ensure that you reduce the amount of waste generated on your property and help protect the environment. This is where composting is helpful. We do not have trash pick-up and recycling is not big where we are. We compost what we can and carry what we can’t to the landfill 45 minute away! So that’s something to think about.
These systems require careful planning and research to be implemented correctly, but they can save money over time while also reducing any reliance on external utilities or services. With enough patience and effort, you can create a self-sufficient homesite that is both sustainable and cost-effective.
Creating self-sufficient systems on a homesite can take some time to set up, but when done correctly they can provide a great sense of accomplishment and reduce your dependence on external utilities or services. With enough planning and research, you can make sure that your homesite is cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Additionally, implementing the right systems can help you stay compliant with local regulations while giving you a sense of pride and independence. Creating self-sufficient systems in your homesite is an extremely rewarding experience that can pay off in dividends over time.
The trick here is to not take on more than you can handle physically or financially. Homesteading for you might just be a garden, composting, and a few chickens for eggs with a rain barrel watering system. It may not seem like much but if everyone was doing even this it would add up to a big difference.
Making Connection
One of the most important steps you can take is connecting with other homesteaders and self-sufficiency living enthusiasts. This not only gives you access to a wealth of knowledge, advice and resources but also allows you to be part of a supportive community that wants to see you succeed. You can find these people in local communities, online forums or by attending events such as conferences and workshops.
Conclusion:
Homesteading and self-sufficiency living is a rewarding journey but it can also be challenging at times. Making sure you are physically and mentally prepared for the hard work involved with this lifestyle is important to ensure success. It’s also essential that you have realistic expectations in terms of how much you can achieve and when, otherwise you could find yourself becoming overwhelmed, frustrated, and discouraged.
Finally, it’s important to focus on the small but important steps you can take on your homesteading and self-sufficiency journey. Start with achievable goals such as growing a small vegetable patch or building a backyard chicken coop and don’t forget to enjoy the process along the way. Good luck!
References:
https://www.hobbyfarms.com/farm-garden/beginning-farmers/